Coco Gauff found herself in some controversy in her match at the China Open against 16-year-old Sun Xinran, who was playing on home soil.
Gauff stopped a rally after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point late in the first set of her 7-5, 6-1 third-round victory over Xinran, a 16-year-old who recently won the U.S. Open junior title.
Sun appeared about to win the point when Gauff stopped playing, but the chair umpire then ordered the point to be replayed.
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Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates after defeating Xinran Sun of China in a Women’s Singles Round of 32 match on day six of the China Open at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, on Oct. 5, 2026. (Fred Lee/Getty Images)
Gauff explained what occurred in the moment, but not before replying to a post on X calling her a racial slur.
“hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. the amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane,” Gauff said, adding that she is “not a cheater or a thief.”
Gauff has called out racism in the past, saying she received similar comments from gamblers earlier this year.
Gauff then said that she saw a light “flicker” early on in the point “but was not sure if that is what I actually saw.”
“We are told before the matches we are allowed to continue to finish play so KEEP IT (sic) MIND i am thinking about all of this while i’m playing the point. anything can be challenged after the point is over… If I would’ve lost the point my opponent is also free to do the same thing and ask for a replay and she would’ve have been completely in her right to do so,” Gauff explained.
Gauff said she saw the light flicker again and raised her hands.
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Coco Gauff of the United States reacts against Xinran Sun of China in the women’s singles third round match at the China Open in Beijing on Oct. 5, 2026. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
“It was an unfortunate situation but it is out of my control, the think pieces and calling me an unfair is ridiculous when those are the rules. I did not make them, I think it’s weird i’m getting hate for following the rules,” Gauff said.
“Xinran is incredible talent and player, I apologized for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood.”
Sun, who was given a wild-card entry by tournament organizers and was making her WTA Tour debut, appeared distraught after the loss. Gauff, who reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a 15-year-old in 2019, sympathized with Sun.
“I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there and I really understand what it is like but this is just the beginning of an incredible career. It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd.”
Xinran Sun of China walks off the court after losing to Coco Gauff of the United States in the women’s singles third round at the China Open in Beijing, China, on Oct. 5, 2026. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
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Gauff will now play in the round of 16 on Wednesday against Elise Mertens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.